HFU Athletics Thriving with Hamill at the Helm
Admittedly, it is neither the thrill of victory nor the agony of defeat that keeps Tim Hamill '04, M'08 up at night.
Sure, you would be hard pressed to find someone who is as passionate about sports as much as the former Holy Family University soccer standout turned fitness room supervisor turned assistant coach turned budget manager turned athletic director (since 2016). But now that he is in charge, it's the wellbeing of everybody under his charge – foremost 330 student-athletes, 12 head coaches, the sports medicine and administrative staff – that makes it hard for him to shut down and put his head on the pillow.
"Being an athletic director is nothing like you would think it would be," Hamill said. "Sure, it is fun working in sports, but there is a lot of management and oversight, putting out fires, talking to parents and professors, keeping 34 staff members happy and getting them what they need to do their job. It's stressful for sure, but especially with all of the mental health concerns that came out of the pandemic, it is the wellbeing of everybody that keeps me up. Every time my phone rings after hours, I always answer it, no matter who is calling. I make it a point to give every student-athlete my cell phone number. But it's never a good phone call, when it's a late-night call."
Thankfully, Hamill has a level-headed, composed nature to capably juggle all the varied duties that keep the Tigers competitive in the Central Atlantic Collegiate Conference (CACC). His cool-under-pressure manner also made him excel as an athlete. He played every sport imaginable growing up in the Mayfair section of Northeast Philadelphia, including bowling since his father and now HFU bowling coach, Patrick Hamill, conveniently owned a bowling alley (Longshore Lanes). He competed throughout his youth in baseball, basketball and soccer. Through soccer, he starred at HFU as a swift-footed midfielder then at forward on a talent-laden team that made the playoffs every year. Hamill earned the school's first-ever NCAA Award after leading all of NCAA Division I, II and III men's soccer in assists-per-game average (1.06), as a senior.
It is that level of competition, and the lifelong camaraderie that results from it, that Hamill hopes to deliver for the current crop of athletes, which has grown from 175 to 330 with the addition of five new sports in an 18-month stretch. He has worked tirelessly, since assuming the leadership role, to upgrade almost every space and facility in the department.
Among his most important jobs, Hamill attests, is hiring coaches who are the right fit for the program.
"I can tell about 10-15 minutes into an interview if the coaching candidate will fit in with the culture and personality of this University," he said. "Sure, I want people who want to win, but I need people who care about our student-athletes, who will help them be successful academically as well. I have a really amazing staff, full of people who are here to do whatever needs to be done for the department to be successful. They put in a lot of hours, a lot of nights and weekends and time away from their own families. I value, love and trust everybody on my staff for that and for what they do for our student-athletes and this University."
Hamill himself is married with two kids and two dogs. "My wife, Courtney '08 (a nursing grad and volleyball player) understands the importance of providing the student athletes with the best experience possible. It would be impossible for me to be as dedicated as I am to the success of this department and the University without my wife's support."
Hamill also expresses deep gratitude for the support that University President Anne Prisco and her administration have shown to athletics and its expansion.
"I know that I am blessed to have a president who sees the value in what we do," he said. "Dr. Prisco has allowed me to increase our staff, elevate coaches to full-time positions, and create the best possible environment to be competitive and successful, both athletically and academically. Her vision and plan for transforming this University has always included athletics."
Hamill next will focus on the new athletic fieldhouse, as he supports the success of his teams. He also will to continue to compete himself as a 225-average bowler (who has 29 perfect games to his credit) and a 10-handicap golfer (the sport that he loves the most).
"I try to get to know our student-athletes and their families," Hamill said. "Outside of watching their success in their sports, I love watching them walk across that stage on graduation day, and I especially love when they come back and tell me what they are doing and how successful they are. That is the best part of my job."